GARY Breen is battling to be fit for the start of the Sky Blue season.

The influential centre-half - who is seen as a key figure in Gordon Strachan?s plans to return straight back to the Premiership - is recovering from a groin operation and has been unable to join his team-mates for pre-season training.

But the City manager is hopeful the player will be back on his feet at the tail end of next week and ready for the new campaign.

?Gary had an operation last Thursday and everything is fine,? said Strachan. ?He will be able to start jogging after 10 days and we are hoping he will be fit to join in with the rest of the lads a few weeks down the line.

?He will be struggling to make the earlier pre-season friendlies but he should make a couple towards the end and hopefully be ready to start the season.?

City?s player of the year picked up the injury at the end of last season but was able to play through the pain until the summer when it was decided he required surgery.

The Republic of Ireland international is in contention for the captaincy next season and is likely to be one of two first choice central defenders in Strachan?s team after such an impressive individual season in the Premiership.

Carlton Palmer, meanwhile, could be the man to fill in for Breen while he recovers from his injury, competing for a place along with Paul Williams and Richard Shaw.

The 35-year-old campaigner has been told by Strachan that his City career can be resurrected at the back, rather than coping with the intense rigours of central midfield.

?Carlton is back with us and I have told him that he has another two or three years left in him by playing at the back,? said the manager.

The final element in the swap deal taking Moustapha Hadji to Aston Villa should be completed today when Julian Joachim, who agreed personal terms yesterday, undergoes his medical for the Sky Blues.